Hey Steemians!
So like so many others, I have decided to invest a little bit into EOS with the hope that it grows into the powerhouse that it claims it could be.
My problem is that the EOS distribution app did not work well for me and ended up costing me almost 100 USD.
So hopefully i can explain what happened, and what I would have done differently to make my process smoother.
1. Dont Use Metamask!
Using Metamask to claim your EOS tokens means you must use their "Automated" app. Usually this sounds like it would be much easier than the other methods, but alas it is not. The problem here is that although the app populates the metamask transaction for you, it is relying on two different programs talking to each other. One the EOS distribution app and two the Metamask app itself. If for some reason something doesn't go exactly as planned the process can turn timely and costly.
For example i used the Metamask apps estimated Gas limit, but in reality for some CRAZY reason my transactions required almost twice that of the limit metamask was assigning, meaning i had to attempt the transaction several times with different limits trying to get a successful transaction. Unfortunately i was charged my transaction fee each time i did this even though my token transaction was never completed. Whats worse is that for some strange reason my transaction required almost 10 times the amount of gas than usual (roughly $15 USD per transaction attempt).
2.Use your main Ether Wallet!
Unfortunately alot of wallets and exchanges are not supported by the EOS distribution and i had to therefore open a new wallet to make the transaction. I thought this was going to be ok as i would just transfer the required funds and be done with it. Unfortunately due to my unsuccessful attempts at claiming my tokens, i had to transfer small amounts of Ether into my metamask wallet just to pay for the transaction fees. As it wasn't my main account i only wanted to transfer small amounts that i would then have to withdrawal back into my usual ether wallet. Unfortunately as the failed transactions kept chewing up my Ether i had to keep transferring more and more small packages of ether. Each time paying more transaction fees.
3. Don't keep doing the same thing over and over
So as mentioned above, my transactions weren't working. I stupidly trusted that metamask was doing the right thing, and since it was costing me $15 USD per transaction i assumed the gas limit was enough. What i should of done after the first attempt was stopped, accessed the problem and looked for a solution. Instead i did a quick 10 minute google search (found nothing) and kept trying the same process over and over again. In the end i should have simply transferred the EOS tokens or asked a friend to attempt it for me. Instead i kept trying the same thing over and over again. In the end, i ended up spending close to $100 USD on gas, when my EOS was only worth $300 USD.
In conclusion, be careful with metamask and other wallets. Sometimes things done work perfectly and it can turn very costly very quickly.